N121-048 TITLE: Embedded Sensors with Low Power Telemetry for Towed Arrays

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PEO IWS 5.0, Thin Line Towed Array Program, ACAT III

OBJECTIVE: This research will develop innovative embedded sensors with low power telemetry for towed arrays.

DESCRIPTION: The performance of current towed arrays can be improved by employing more hydrophones and telemetry channels per unit length. This topic seeks the development of innovative concepts that can increase the number of hydrophones and telemetry channels per unit length while simultaneously achieving a very small form factor (i.e., the length/diameter requirement). For example, one methodology might involve embedding the telemetry and sensors such that the response of every sensor/hydrophone is transmitted to the processing system. This differs from the current approach of electrically summing a number of sensors/hydrophones and transmitting the summed response topside for processing. A new process could result in a greater number of channels and reduce power consumption per channel; however, embedding the sensor and telemetry in conjunction with the towed array application also imposes dimensional constraints. This means that the telemetry electronics need to be significantly smaller than current designs. As such, the degree of miniaturization of the diameter and length of the embedded sensor and telemetry should be a significant part of any innovative concept developed.

Increasing the sensor count will result in higher data rates for these oversampled arrays, requiring innovative approaches to accommodate the resulting increased data bandwidth. Additionally, a robust fault-tolerant approach is needed to improve array reliability. Having multiple sensors and telemetry channels where currently there is only one of each will result in inherent redundancy and graceful degradation in the event of a sensor failure. Innovative concepts, products, methods, or techniques are needed to develop embedded sensors and telemetry to increase the number of channels per unit length in sonar arrays to improve system performance while simultaneously reducing the power required and improving reliability.

PHASE I: One or more methods to embed sensors and telemetry will be developed. The results will include increased channel count per unit length within the towed sensor, reduction in telemetry power and associated acoustic sensor noise, and no degradation of detection performance metrics. An initial feasibility study of the concept(s) to embedding sensors, and telemetry using theoretical, empirical, or provided experimental data shall be conducted. A Phase II development plan with performance goals and key technical milestones will be provided.

PHASE II: Using the results of the Phase I study, a prototype low power acoustics sensor towed array with embedded sensors and telemetry will be developed, fabricated, and evaluated. A comparison study of the reduced effective noise levels with a similar baseline sensor or towed array system will be completed. The possible detection enhancement capabilities will be exercised to improve operational speed considerations at reduced power. An analysis that demonstrates the cost of the new concept is commensurate or less than existing sonar towed arrays will be performed. The company will provide a Phase III development plan to transition the technology to Navy use.

PHASE III: Should a Phase III contract be awarded, and after successful prototype testing in Phase II, the completion of development of a low power acoustic sensor array configuration using embedded sensors will be accomplished, and an advanced development model will be provided to the Submarine and Surface Towed Array Advanced Development Program for in water evaluation within a relevant environment. The company will support the Navy for possible transition to Fleet use if test results are satisfactory.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Towed low power/low noise acoustic sensors would be of great interest to the seismic oil and natural gas exploration industries. Low power, spatially oversampled sensors can be used to increase survey speeds (and thus reduce costs) for sub bottom mapping in oil exploration and other water-borne geophysical applications.

REFERENCES:
(1) Burdic, William S. Underwater Acoustic System Analysis, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1991.

(2) Urick, R. J., Principles of Underwater Sound for Engineers, New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1967.

(3) Lemon, S. G. "Towed-Array History, 1917-2003", IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, Vol. 29, No. 2, April 2004

KEYWORDS: Towed Array; Telemetry; Embedded Sensors; Self Noise; Life Cycle Cost; Low Power Reliability

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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